Union territory with legislative assembly
In the Republic of India, a union territory is a form of administrative division. Union territories are federal regions controlled, in part or entirely, by the Union Government of India, unlike the states of India, which have their own governments. India currently has eight union territories.
The Indian federal system contained the following when the Constitution of India was adopted in 1949:
Part C states, which included chief commissioners' provinces and several princely states, were each led by a president-appointed chief commissioner. Ajmer, Bhopal, Bilaspur, Coorg, Delhi, Himachal Pradesh, Cutch, Manipur, Tripura, and Vindhya Pradesh were the 10 Part C states.
One Part D state (Andaman and Nicobar Islands) is governed by a centrally appointed lieutenant governor.
Part C and Part D states were merged into a single category of "Union territory" with the States Reorganisation Act of 1956. Only 6 union territories remained after different reorganizations:
Islands of Andaman and Nicobar
Islands of Laccadive, Minicoy, and Amindivi (later renamed Lakshadweep)
Delhi
Manipur
Tripura
Himachal Pradesh is a state in northern India.
By the early 1970s, Manipur, Tripura, and Himachal Pradesh had become independent states, while Chandigarh remained a union territory. Three more (Dadra and Nagar Haveli, Daman and Diu, and Puducherry) were constituted from reclaimed territory from non-British colonial powers (Portuguese India and French India respectively).
The Indian Parliament passed the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019 in August of this year. On October 31, 2019, the legislation will rebuild the state of Jammu and Kashmir into two union territories, one of which would be named Jammu and Kashmir and the other Ladakh.
The Indian government introduced legislation in November 2019 to unite the union territories of Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu into a new union territory called Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu.
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Why were Union Territories Formed?
After gaining independence from French rule in 1954, Puducherry was integrated into the Republic of India and became the Union Territory of Puducherry. Puducherry was given Partial Statehood status in 1963.
After gaining independence from Portuguese rule in 1961, Daman & Diu and Goa were incorporated into the Republic of India. Goa was granted the status of statehood in 1987, making it the first Union Territory to do so. Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu were combined into a single Union Territory, Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu, in the year 2020.
Union Territory with Legislative Assembly
Manipur, Tripura, and Himachal Pradesh were granted statehood in the early 1970s. Chandigarh was elevated to the status of a Union Territory.
Previously, Delhi was a state. The first Delhi Legislative Assembly elections were held on March 27, 1952, with 48 seats. The first Chief Minister of Delhi was Chaudhary Brahm Prakash Yadav. Delhi, however, lost its statehood and became a UT with the State Reorganisation Act of 1956. The Union Territory of Delhi was awarded partial statehood status in 1991, and it became known as the National Capital Territory of Delhi.
The Indian Parliament enacted the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019, which divided the state of Jammu and Kashmir into two Union Territories: UT of Jammu and Kashmir and UT of Ladakh.
Why Union Territories of India were Formed?
If you have a question of why union territories of India were formed? We have got you covered.
Union Territories, with the exception of Delhi, have a smaller population and land area than states. As a result, they are too small to be self-governing and are managed by the Union Government (except for Delhi, Jammu and Kashmir, and Puducherry).
Because they were previously under Portuguese (Daman and Diu) and French authority, several of the Union Territories have a distinct culture from their neighbouring States (Puducherry). As a result, these UTs cannot be united with neighbouring states.
The administrative capital of India is Delhi, but the administrative capitals of Haryana and Punjab are Chandigarh and Chandigarh, respectively.
The islands of Lakshadweep and Andaman and Nicobar are located distant from India's mainland. As a result, they are strategically essential to India, and the Indian government can intervene immediately in the event of an emergency.
Union Territories and their Capitals
FAQs on Why were union territories formed?
1. How were the union territories of India defined?
Some UTs gained their independence considerably later than India. Some were not colonized by the British, such as Pondicherry, Daman, and Diu, and Dadra and NH, which were colonized by the French. Chandigarh was unique in that it served as the capital of two separate states. Delhi was/is India's capital and hence enjoys special rights. Because the islands of Andaman and Nicobar and Lakshadweep were physically separated from the surrounding states, they were granted administrative autonomy.
2. Why does India have Union territories? Why are these union territories not states or regions in a state?
Let us look back in time to answer this question. The post-independence period in India presented the task of reorganizing states. The first was the incorporation of princely states into the Indian union. Then there were issues with gaining entry to Junagarh, Hyderabad, and Kashmir. Following that, India has to deal with two issues in order to attain national consolidation.
- The choice of the union's official language.
- Reorganization of the states linguistically.
The redrawing of India's map on linguistic grounds began in 1956, after the formation of two states – Andhra Pradesh and Madras – on linguistic grounds in 1953, following the death of Potti Sree Ramulu, who fasted to death for a separate state for Telugu speakers. The establishment of these two states sparked a heated political dispute, and we now know how the State Reorganisation Act introduced linguistic provinces.
Each state has its own government. They are part of a federal system that shares powers with the federal government, whereas the federal government administers Union territories (UT) and any acquired territory. It is important to notice that not all UTs have the same structure. However, the UTs in general have tribal characteristics, a distinct culture, and a strategic location, among other things. They also do not follow the same administrative structure.
When the Portuguese took over Goa, Daman, and Diu, they were all three territories, but Goa was granted statehood in 1987 (owing to popular demand), while Daman and Diu remained UTs.
Previously, Chandigarh was a part of Punjab. Punjab was then separated following the Shah Commission findings, and Haryana was formed. Chandigarh has been designated as the UT.
Arunachal Pradesh has been a UT since 1972, but it was raised to statehood in response to popular demand.
The Portuguese were driven out of Dadra and Nagar Haveli, a small area. Despite the fact that Maharashtra and Gujarat sought to unite the UT with them, the people fought back because they wanted to keep their culture. As a result, it remained a UT.
The islands of Lakshadweep are only 28 square kilometres in size. As a result of the small geographical region, the Centre administers a UT.
Puducherry is made up of four enclaves that are separated by a large distance. It, like the capital territory of New Delhi, has unique administrative status.
Hyderabad has recently been proposed as a UT for Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. The public, economic community, and bureaucracy of Seemandhra, Rayalaseema region were solely concerned that their interests in Hyderabad would be harmed as a result of the formation of Telangana. As a result, a proposal to declare Hyderabad a UT was made in order to appease them. The project was eventually dropped as the notion failed to gain traction.
In India, the evolution of states and union territories has a lengthy history. The majority of UTs are the result of boundary integration and redistribution. Excessive backwardness, a tiny geographic region, a strategic location, tribal culture - which necessitates the preservation of culture and identity, and a considerable distance between territories are all factors that contribute to the establishment of UTs.
3. What are some of the unique things about union territories in India?
For a variety of reasons, the Union territories are governed directly by the Indian government. States require funds to operate their administrative apparatus, which are obtained by state taxes levied on goods in addition to central levies.
Things may be less expensive because there are no state taxes. If a state offers a subsidy (for example, Goa on fuel), you can get those things cheaper in that state.
CMs (partial statehood) are in place in Delhi and Puducherry, and taxes may be imposed.
4. What advantages does a state have compared to a union territory?
Although Delhi and Pondicherry have elected legislatures and councils of ministers, other Union Territories do not. States, on the other hand, can establish laws and influence choices inside the state list, although union territories cannot.
Unlike states, which administer a central grant, the central government is more directly involved in the financial well-being of territories through Lt Governor.
